Meet Our Guides

Our Full-Time Staff

Each member of Journey Quest’s staff has a heart for Jesus Christ and to see the lives of kids and adults changed by the power of the gospel. Combined they have over 60 years experience in Christian camping and wilderness ministry. They are dedicated to the ministry and passionate for God’s creation.

2023 Guide Team

As we near the start of our 2023 season, we are excited to introduce you to the guides who are ready to serve your family or your group this summer. We can’t wait to see how God will work through each and every one of them. This page will be updated throughout the spring, so check back often.

Join Our Team

Each summer we hire a guide team to serve our guests. We seek staff who have a passion to know and serve Jesus Christ, a heart to minister to youth and families, and a desire to serve in an outdoors-based wilderness ministry. If that’s you, consider applying for the next summer!

Mark & Sarah Anderson

President / CEO

Mark grew up in the Chicago area and moved out to Colorado in 1992 to serve at Camp Redcloud, a Christian camp in Southwest Colorado. God used Mark’s first year there to bring Mark to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and he served there for several more years before he helped start a wilderness ministry at Redcloud’s sister camp in New-Zealand. In 1997, Mark joined the staff at Reachout Expeditions (now YD Adventures) in Oregon where, despite his fear of water, he became a whitewater raft guide. Mark stayed at YD for nine years guiding river trips, mountaineering adventures, and eventually serving as Program Director.

Sarah grew up in Greeley, Colorado, and loves outdoor adventure. While attending Trinity Western University, she guided for several summers at YD Adventures in Oregon. This is where she met Mark, and they were married in 2001. Sarah has a passion for wilderness ministry, discipleship, gourmet cooking, and hospitality.

Mark & Sarah returned to Colorado in 2005 to direct Camp Redcloud’s wilderness ministry and youth discipleship programs until 2011. During this time they began to sense God’s leading to start a new wilderness ministry in Colorado, and in early 2011 they began the process of starting Journey Quest.

Mark & Sarah have 5 young children who love outdoor adventures and climbing all over all our staff. Mark is a Wilderness EMT, a Swiftwater & High-Angle Rescue instructor for Rescue 3 International, and a certified river guide instructor. Sarah is a Wilderness EMT and a certified river guide and trip-leader.

Support Mark and Sarah Financially

Steve Nutting

Program Director

Steve grew up in Grand Junction, Colorado where he developed a passion for Christ, the outdoors, and youth ministry. He sensed God’s call to ministry while serving as a counselor at a Christian camp during the summer of 1996, and served as a guide and supervisor for 15 years at Camp Redcloud in Lake City, Colorado. In 2011 Steve joined with Mark & Sarah to help start Journey Quest. Steve has a passion for seeing the lives of youth and adults changed through an encounter with God in His creation.

Like anyone at a small organization, Steve wears many hats and oversees Journey Quest’s marketing, web-design, multi-day ministry trips, rock-climbing, and backcountry programs.

Steve is an avid mountaineer, climber, hiker and skier. He attended Jackson Hole Bible College where he earned a Diploma in Biblical Foundations, and is an AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor and Wilderness EMT-Intermediate. When not out in the mountains, Steve enjoys music, gourmet cooking, reading, graphics design, technology, and just hangin’ out. During the off-season, Steve is a moonlight web-developer and graphics designer, and often volunteers with the local EMS and Search and Rescue teams.

Read Steve’s Blog | Support Steve Financially | Subscribe to Steve’s Newsletters

Mario & Heather Currado

Operations Director

Mario grew up in the Western Mojave Desert, where he developed a passion for camping under the stars and exploring the surrounding San Gabriel and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges. His family lived towards the edge of town where they raised many animals on their property, and had large vegetable gardens. He, along with his parents and two brothers, hosted frequent gatherings for Bible study, worship, barbecues, and adventure outings which often included scrambling rocky ridges, sliding down waterfalls to swim in hidden canyons, and sharing wild-crafted meals of acorns, rattlesnake, rabbit, trout, and fresh herbs and berries cooked over friction fires. Through all of this, Mario developed a deep love for his Creator and for sharing the wonders of creation with others.

Mario learned a variety of repair and construction skills from friends and family, and worked with his father for 14 years in the ceramic tile installation trade. During this time he also worked occasionally at living history farms and summer camps, learned technical rock climbing in Yosemite, guided rafting on the Kern River, became a ski instructor, and was certified as a Wilderness First Responder. Best of all, he married his true love, Heather Darrington, a horse-riding, guitar playing bluegrass singer with a fiery heart and sparkling eyes.

Mario, Heather, their son Riley, and daughter Sage lived and worked at The Oaks Christian Camp in the mountains north of Los Angeles for 12 years. They helped care for the numerous facilities, mentored new staff and led many adventures for youth and families from the inner cities of California. The Currados began working at Journey Quest in the Spring of 2022, and are excited for another season of serving our guests in the beautiful mountains of Colorado.

Support Mario & Heather Financially

Kyle Rogness

Kyle Rogness

Kyle Rogness is a second-year guide who hails from Virginia. Currently, he is studying for an Associates in Fire Science at Colorado Mountain College, Leadville. He is a certified Firefighter and EMT-b and after graduating from the CMC Fire Academy he now works with Leadville Lake County Fire & Rescue. Kyle loves mountain biking, hiking, frisbee, listening to music, playing instruments (piano and currently learning the uke and harmonica), longboarding, 4-wheel driving, picking flowers (yes, really! Like, a LOT!) and thrift shopping for vintage literature! What warms his heart most, though, is spending time with dear friends. Kyle is continually learning what it means to walk through the deserts and how God can sustain and provide despite Kyle’s sinful nature to wander. He is looking forward to seeing God grow and mature those who come to Journey Quest, patron or staff, and for God to openly parade His beauty and goodness through Journey Quest and it’s staff. Kyle can’t wait to be challenged, be goofy, be serving, be filled up, be poured out, and be more like Christ.

Tim Salsman

Tim Salsman

This is Tim’s first year at Journey Quest. Tim is from Lexington, Kentucky and goes to college down the road at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. He is a rising senior studying psychology and adventure education & leadership. Tim hopes to pursue the biological and research field of psychology while also serving in the missions field for mental health. Through the adventure leadership program, Tim has developed a passion for outdoor ministry and wilderness therapy. When not studying, Tim loves working as a barista for a coffee shop, spending time with his two dogs, serving at his local missions center, and being in the presence of his friends.

Tim is excited to see what God has in store for him this summer and to grow in whatever areas God is teaching him. He is particularly expectant God will teach him how to be more present, patient, and to lean more into trusting God throughout the day-to-day while pouring into others. He is also excited for the change of scenery Colorado provides compared to his home in Kentucky. 

Annabelle Button

Annabelle Button

Annabelle is joining Journey Quest for her first summer, after a year with Worldview at the Abbey. There, she has spent the 2022-2023 school year with twenty-five other lively young adults studying Christianity, philosophy and making life-long memories. If she’s not in school or working, she hopes to be swing dancing, laughing with friends and family, or writing.   She is a Canon City local and homeschool grad, grateful for the opportunity to learn the outdoors side of Colorado while serving the Lord. Annabelle is passionate about people and loves relational ministry. She is excited to make the most of the river and mountains of her childhood. If there’s anything that she wants God to teach her over the summer of 2023, it’s endurance and humility.  Annabelle will be working towards a degree in social work in the fall. In the far future, she sees herself married and raising a large homeschool family while working out of her house as a self-employed Christian counselor. Annabelle is heading into the season eager for deep relationship and spiritual growth.

Riley Currado

Riley Currado

Riley Currado joined Journey Quest in 2022 and is excited to be back for a second year. After growing up at a Christian camp in Southern California, he and his family decided to try a new adventure, so they learned about Journey Quest and moved to Colorado. His parents and sister serve in various roles at Journey Quest, but Riley’s role is raft guiding. He loves the mountains and rivers, and he is excited to meet guests who share that love as well. As he guides them down the river, he hopes to share in conversation about the ultimate wilderness guide: the Creator of the world. If you find yourself on a raft with him this season, ask how trusting God and finding community in the family of Christ have guided him. You could also ask about him mountain biking, athleticism, writing, investing, or HVAC-R and the trades. 

Evan Anderson

Evan Anderson

This is Evan’s second year at Journey Quest. He lives in Charleston, SC and attends the local trade college “Trident Technical” for Hvac, while also working for the company, “Aloha Heating and Air”. His favorite things to do are exploring the outdoors, carpentry, and watching spaghetti western movies. With the opportunity that God has given him, through Journey Quest, he now takes on the role of leader and works on being an example to those around him while sharing the love of Jesus with them. He is most excited to make good memories with his fellow guides this summer. Whether going down the river, on some wizard rapids, or hiking up the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, Evan is pumped for whatever the summer brings.

Olivia Grooters

Olivia Grooters

Olivia is thrilled for her first season at Journey Quest! She was adopted at age two from Guangzhou, China, and since then has been raised in Canon City, Colorado. She is a current student at Pueblo Community College and will start the nursing program this upcoming fall. She graduated last year from high school with not only a high school diploma, but an associates degree in general studies. Olivia is an EMT-IV and is working at American Medical Response (AMR) part time. Outside of school she loves to rock climb, snowboard, hike, paddle board, socialize with friends and family, and travel when time allows. Olivia hopes during her 1st year at Journey Quest that God will help her not only to be courageous, but put a spark of Jesus into people’s lives. She is excited for the adventures that lay ahead this summer as well grow in her faith spiritually and relationally. 

Luke Frost

Luke Frost

Luke Frost is returning to Journey Quest for his third summer after taking two seasons off for school. Now that he has graduated from Toccoa Falls College with a double major in Communication and Ministry Leadership, he’s ready to get back on the river and rock! Luke is originally from Marondera, a small town in the African country of Zimbabwe and loves to do anything outside (snowboarding, rock climbing, rafting, hiking, etc). In his free time, he enjoys taking friends down the river, up rock walls, and to whatever Marvel movie was just released. This summer, Luke is most excited for the opportunity to meet new people and see how God will use every interaction to grow and shape him. 

Kileen Rogness

Kileen Rogness

Kileen has worked with Journey Quest for four seasons. She is originally from western Colorado, but now considers Canon City home. She has spent the last couple years working with middle and high school aged students in various capacities, her favorite being The Bridge Youth Center in Canon City. She loves the friendships she has developed with students as a result of this work. During her first summer at Journey Quest she met her husband, Kyle, and they are expecting a daughter this fall! This summer she is excited to meet guests who come through Journey Quest, and support guides as they pour themselves out to spread the Gospel.

Nick Reagan

Nick Reagan

Nick Reagan is joining the team for his first year at Journey Quest. Originally from Georgia, he spent most of his life in Woodbridge, Virginia until he went to Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. He is majoring in Adventure Education & Leadership and minoring in Sociology.  When not in school, he is either working at a climbing gym or climbing outside, you may even spot him climbing the side of a building. Other than climbing, Nick enjoys trying new recipes in the kitchen with his friends. In this season, he is most excited about being able to be outside in God’s creation. One of his passions in life is showing others the beauty that is found outdoors. His biggest goal this summer is to learn to trust God through the hardships and the twists and turns.

Katie Hampton

Katie Hampton

 Katie Hampton is stoked for her first season with Journey Quest! She is from Boise, Idaho and grew up running the Payette river and galavanting through the Sawtooth Mountains. She earned her Bachelor’s in Communication and was involved as a leader in the Outdoor Program at Boise State. She is going into her second year of her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Denver Seminary with the hopes of starting her own wilderness therapy company someday. During her undergrad and postgrad, she has done a variety of backpacking, climbing, and whitewater guiding with other wilderness ministries. She heard about Journey Quest through their partnership with Seeds Wilderness Therapy while working as a field instructor. When she is not studying or working, you can find Katie climbing, kayaking, alpine skiing, improving new recipes in the kitchen, drinking kombucha, singing, writing, or telling a long story. This summer, Katie is excited to work as a vessel for the Holy Spirit while sharpening her raft guiding skills. She is grateful for the opportunity to work alongside other guides with a passion for wilderness ministry. 

Kyle Rogness
Tim Salsman
Annabelle Button
Riley Currado
Evan Anderson
Olivia Grooters
Luke Frost
Kileen Rogness
Nick Reagan
Katie Hampton

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